Background:
Celebrating 30 years of sports excellence, the Arnold Sports Festival returns to Columbus, OH March 1-4, 2018. 75 sports will be represented and new sports/exhibits will be introduced.
Impression:
You know we here at VisualOhio love the Arnold Sports Festival. We have been attending the event long before we covered it professionally. We've seen the event grow and change over time, just as we've seen different sports and athletes change over time.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has created a tradition, a welcoming atmosphere for the world of sports. This annual, world wide event is something to behold. A mecca of sorts, that we feel everyone should attend at least once in their life, if for no other reason to see the world in a different way. A way that shows that varying sports and athletes from all kinds of backgrounds have a place.
Here is a sampling of some of our favorite images from over the years. Please enjoy them and know that we love what we do and we love bringing you coverage of the event every year.
The 30th year will bring even more sports, hitting the 75 mark - including axe throwing and body painting being added this year.
Background: Natural Muscle Association is an organization for competitive body building where certain substances are banned from use by their competitors.
Impression:
If you love body building competitions, then this is one for you! The athletes and routines are just like the bigger named IFBB competitions, with the only real difference being the standards to which the athletes are held in regards to substances they can use during training to gain their physiques.
You'll find a high level of drive and desire, dedication and determination here. The bodybuilders here worked very hard and compete even harder to try and bring home their prize.
Natural Muscle Association has several competitions in Ohio every year, the bigger ones being in Cleveland and Akron. Check out their website for more information on the next competition, rules, banned substances.
Background:
Bodybuilding and Physique is arguably the cornerstone of the Arnold Fitness Expo each year. The Arnold Classic brings the world's best bodybuilders to Columbus, OH each year for the coveted title.
Impression:
Women, men, amateur, professional. All words used to describe the athletes in our video above. This year was a special year for us at VisualOhio. We were able to get more coverage of the bodybuilding competitions than ever before.
The women did not disappoint as they brought their "A" game again, back to the expo stage.
The amateurs were looking for a win so they can move into the professional ranks.
This year, we were blessed to be able to see the wheelchair bodybuilding competition. They work just as hard, and perhaps harder than everyone else to build their bodies up into magnificent specimens. The wheelchair is not holding them back. With competitions like the Arnold Classic, the wheelchair bodybuilders are one step closer to be recognized by the Olympic committee and having their sport officially represented in the Olympic games.
Such an emotional event. As each athlete came onto the stage for their posing routine, the MC described the circumstances of what put them in the wheelchair. We have no excuse to say that we cannot do something, when you see what these competitors have overcome.
For the first time ever, VisualOhio staff went to the Arnold Classic finals. We did not go as media, we went as spectators. We wanted to see the event in all its glory and enjoy it, not work it.
If you have never been and you love this sport - you need to go at least once in your life to experience it.
Enjoy the slideshow which showcases images and video coverage of Bodybuilding events, Strongman competitions and the Induction of some great athletes into the International Sports Hall of Fame. This is the first part of a 3 part series that will cover the various aspects of the 4 day expo.
Background:
Most people's first impression of the Arnold Fitness Expo is that it is only an International Federation of Body Builders event. While it is true that the IFBB competitions are a large part of the Expo, there is so much more to it than that. There are actually 50+ sports spotlighted during the 4 days. We at VisualOhio hope to share with you some of the other events and sports present during the long weekend that make this one of the premiere fitness events in the world!
This edition will cover our experiences at the Expo in general as well as highlighting the body building preliminaries, the first round of the Arnold Strongman competition on the Expo Stage and the ceremony to celebrate the 2015 inductees into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
Impression:
Arnold Fitness Expo
The Convention Center was amassed with people and busy as it always has been. All of the big players in the fitness, supplement, and gear industries are there as well as some relatively new vendors. There are lines everywhere, people looking for their next supplement or trying out some new and exciting gear or fitness method.
The Expo stage has some great events as well like the amateur bodybuilding, physique, and Strongman competitions as well as arm wrestling.
IFBB Amateurs
The IFBB amateurs were there and most are looking for their next big break into the professional ranks. A win here could mean sponsorship and preparation to go pro. Whether amateur or pro, these athletes show the hard work and dedication of years of training.
Strongman Competitions
With almost godly feets of strength, these powerful men from all over the world do things that most of us only dream about - lifting 1100 + pounds of timbers and running them up an incline in only seconds, or powering a 450 pound log from the floor to overhead not once, but multiple times!! I find myself mesmerized by the sheer power these men are capable of harnessing and the explosive athleticism. Definitely a must see event!!
International Sports Hall of Fame
While a private ceremony, this is a very important place for athletes to not only be recognized for their achievement in sports but also for their success off their stage of fame and see them in a different light. These are the ones that go above and beyond the sport and give back to the community through charity and individual works. We as fans do not always get to know these people beyond what we see on TV or hear in the media. It was such a great experience to see them outside of that and for what they truly are - normal people that show how having a dream and working hard for it can pay off. Each of the inductees were chosen not only based on their success and awards, but because each of them have used their success to give back and to inspire others.
